Speedometer drive



Dec. 10, 1.929. E. A. GUsTAFsoN 1,738,771

' sPEEDoMETER DRIVE Filed June 8, 1927 lll/27],

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' Patented Dec. 10, 1929 r*Eiwin A. GUsrArsoIq, or rLIN'Ix MICHIGAN, AssIGNoR 'rol-AY osPArJK rime COMPANL Y or FLINT, MIGHIGAN, A COMPANY or MICHIGAN Y siiiiioMETER DRIVE Aepiicautn ined :rime s,

vMy invention :relates to an improved'speedometei' drive of the type commonly used to drivevthe speedometer from the transmission of a motor vehicle. i l' Ordinarily the vtra'nsmission Vend of this drive is encased ina small housing which is of housings in oriderpto lower their cost. y Instead of constructing' .theinso that they may be 'attached directly to the trans-mission casing, I prefer to fasten the housing to a plate and then bolt the plate to the transmission casing. lVith this method it only necessary to form the plates to suit the indivi-dual transmmission casing, andas the plates are merely stampings, they are much cheaper to manufacture and may be carried in stock easier. Y y

A further object is to provide a simplified and satisfactory method of attaching the flexible driving member to the speedometer drive housing without the use of nuts or threads.

With the above and other objects in view my invention will/be more clearly understood by referring to the specification and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the center of a transmission, showing my improved speedometer drive associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3.. of Figure 1.

Figure a is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing a slightly modiied form of drive.

Figure 5 is a. view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing a still diiierent arrangement.

The reference numeral indicates a transmission casing within which is supported the transmissiopnn shaft 12 in the bearing 14. The transmission casing is usually provided with 'screws 22.

192%. serial no. 197,466.

threaded openings to permit the securing of the speedometer drive housing to the transmission casivng'. As stated above, the transy mission casing/of eachmaleoi' vehicle is dit ferent and the spacing of these threaded i openings is apt v to vary; `-Therefore 'a vdii'- I'erent speedometer drivefhousiiig must lbe provided for each make of vehicle "and consequently the rcost is comparatively high', Iv prefer to' standardize these various speedom- `eter vdrive housings into one .type7 and to mount this standard housingv 16 on a plate 18 by rivets 2O or in anyother ysuitable manner. By making "all 'off these housingsexy aictly the same, it willbe seenthat the production will be greatlyincreas'ed fand the cost'- thereby lowered. A special plate A18 will have to be provided foreachinake of transmission vcasing" to 'suit the spacing of thethreaded open'lnggbut as these plates "merely stamping/s and vare verycheapto manufacture', this notobj ectio"n'al` le.v This :plate isr's'ecured 'to the transmission casing cap- Clamped between :a spia/cer' 24 vvand a universal joint lange member 26 is a ilat disc ZShavingprojections' 30. This disc, rotating iv-iththe shaft 12, rserves to drive a 'driving gear32 which 'has slots 34 into which the projections tit. The gear 32 is j'ournalled upon 'a bearing portion 36 formed in the housing 16. The stamping` 18 is formed with a cupsha'p'ved portion 38 which lies within the hous- 16 andi which serves to prevent *airial movement'of the gear k32 inthe onedirection, 5f

the housing '1:6v preventing aiii'al movement in the other vdirection.4 f

The housingfl is provided with fa passage 40' in which iis" journall'ed `a shaft A442, yhollow 176- 'and is :held thereon byv clamp 54 and bolt 56.v The'ijnnerei'id ofthe shaft is squared as "at 58 to it'iiito 'andhb'e 'driven byA a driven gear `60 'which is held in a recessfQ iirtli'e housing 16' and vwhich -ineshes with 'the dri-ving gear 32. A stamped washer 621 is vpressed its at its outer end andlhavingfa Vs lotadapted 3 roo .said plates.

into the portion 52 of the housing and serves to hold the shaft 42 in place during shipment and also to take the outward thrust of the shaft when in operation.

In Figure 4 another form is shown, in Which the driving gear is supported partly on the portion 36 of the housing and partly Yon the cup-shaped portion 72 of the stamping 18. A projection 74 formed on'the gear extends down intoV a keyway 76 in the universal joint flange 78 for the purpose of driving the gear from the shaft 12. l

In Figure 5 a still different form'is shown in'which the housing 16 as fastened directly to the transmission casing 10. A cup-shaped stamping 8O lits Within the housing and serves* to hold the'gear 32 in place.

It is thought from theV foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing that the construction 'and operation of the device Will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and `that various changes in size, shape,

Yand proportion anddetails of construction may bev made Without ydeparting from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1.` The method of securing a standardized instrument drive housing to any one of a plurality of casings, consisting in providing attaching plates of suitable size and dimensions for each of said casings and securing one of said standardized housings to Ieach of 2. An instrument drive comprising, in combination, a casing, an instrument drive housing supported from said casing, a bearing portion in said housing, la gear jouinalled f upon said bearing portion, and a cupi-shaped member located Within said housing and serving to limit the axialV movement tion of the gear.Y Y

3. An instrument drive comprising, in combination, a casing, a plate secured to said casing, an instrument drive housingmountedupon said plate, a bearing portion formed 'in said housing, anda gear journalled upon said ^bearing portion.

l4. An instrument drive comprising, in combination, a casing, a shaft `Vrotatably mounted in said casing, an instrument drive housing adapted to be supported from said casing, a bearing portion formed in said housing, aV gear journalled upon said bearing portion, and means associated With said shaft to drive said gear therefrom.,

5. An instrument drive comprising, in combination, a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, an instrument drive housing yadapted to befsupported from said casing, a bearing portion formed in said housing, a gear journalled upon said bearing portion, slots in `said gear, a Washer driven from said shaft, and projections on said Washer adapted to iit intosaid slots for the ypurpose of driving said gear.V

in one direc- 6. An instrument drive comprising, in combination, a casing, a plate secured to said casing, an instrument drive housing mounted upon said plate, said plate being provided with a cup-shaped portion lying Within said housing, a bearing portion formed in said housing, a gear journalled on said housing, said gear being held from axial movement in one direction by said housing and in the `othei` by said cup shapedfportion.

' housing.

9. An instrument drive lcomprising in combination, an instrument drive housing, a

shaft journalled in said housing, a flexible driving shaft inv ydriving engagement With said shaft,y a Washer between said member and said housing serving to hold said shaft position, a flexible tube encasing said gear from said flexible shaft, and a split sleeve secured to saidtube and adapted to clamp said tube to said housing.

Intestimony'whereof I aiix my signature.

EDWIN A. GUSTAFSON. 

